Staples joins e-Stewards Enterprise

Staples joins e-Stewards Enterprise

Electronics and office-supply retailer Staples has joined the e-Stewards Enterprise program and has rolled out updates to the free electronics take-back service at its 1,500 U.S. stores.

Staples' in-store take-back program began in 2007, but the recent announcement, which coincided with Earth Day on April 22, means that going forward, material collected by the company will only be processed by companies and organizations certified to the e-Stewards standard. The Staples program accepts computers, displays, peripherals, printers and mobile electronics.

"This is a breakthrough for U.S. electronics consumers and the environment in keeping with the true intent of Earth Day," said Jim Puckett, executive director of the Basel Action Network, which oversees e-Stewards. "Thanks to Staples' leadership in committing to use e-Stewards recyclers, consumers now have many more convenient drop-off locations to ensure their old cell phone or computer will be recycled in the most responsible way."